Читать книгу More Straight Talk on Investing - John J. Brennan - Страница 48

Suppose you've watched the property values climb in your neighborhood, and you're considering refinancing your mortgage to take advantage of that appreciation and get some extra cash. Or perhaps you've accumulated a tidy nest egg in your 401(k) account and now would like to borrow on it. Be very careful.

It's true that sometimes these decisions make good financial sense. But keep in mind that borrowing against your house or your 401(k) carries a risk. The appreciation in a house or a 401(k) is just a paper gain, not money in your pocket. You won't truly have real money in your pocket until you sell the house or withdraw money from your 401(k) plan. The risk is that property values or the financial markets will fall, and you'll be left owing money. If you have the misfortune to be laid off from your job and you have borrowed against your 401(k), you will have to keep repaying the loan while unemployed or face additional taxes and penalties.